Human Remains Found In Back Yard
June 16 2021
Human remains were found buried in a shallow grave Monday in Pacific Heights after a homeowner returning from abroad found them and called 911.
The San Francisco Police Department was called to the scene near Divisadero and Sacramento Monday morning.
"This is so scary," said neighbor Jennifer Chesterton, "This sort of thing is supposed to happen downtown! Not where I live!"
It was a Monday morning 911 call from a contractor appraising the condition of the back porch that led authorities to find the decomposed body buried in the backyard.
"It was covered by a tarp, so it was placed there," Detective Metcalf of SFPD has said.
Authorities have identified the remains as Leslie Diaz, of Fresno California, who has been missing since 1993.
"It's been a shock! I've been told to keep the kids inside, keep them out of the backyard — that's kind of scary!" said neighbor Rosemary Vaughn. Vaughn said she's been living next to the home where the body was found for about 12 years.
According to her, an elderly man used to live there before recently passing away.
Sawyer and her neighbor across the street, Jennifer Chesterton, remember him fondly.
"He was such a sweet old man, he knew everybody on the street," Chesterton said.
"He took care of the neighborhood cats, he loved gardening," Sawyer said.
However, the neighbors tell ABC7 that ever since her death, things haven't been so quiet.
"Ever since Mr. Malapitan died his grandson has been renting out that place on AirBnB, and even before that, that house did a lot of activity going on," Vaughn said.
Chesterton said the home has been in the same family for years.
Meanwhile, neighbors and police are left looking for answers about what was going on inside the home next door.
"I just don't want my kids knowing too much, but unfortunately I think they can hear and see all the chaos going on," Rosemary said.
ABC7 will follow the investigation and provide information as it develops.
